Mini Pole Removal Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A base plate apparatus that fits on a skid steer arms, teleboom or digger derrick boom system used to extract pole or pilings set deeply in the earth. Allows one person without the need for someone to hook chains or straps to extract the pole or piling. Greatly increases safety. It has a unique mounting system allowing the apparatus to be used on numerous types of equipment. The addition of a drop in tool allows the pulling of ground support anchors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an attachment to skid steer loaders, mechanical shovels, digger derrick trucks, and teleboom tractors which can be used to remove poles or pilings. This attachment used by all utilities and contractors to repair storm damage and related work in much less time. The ease of mounting allows a wide range of available equipment to be used.

One known prior art is a POLE HANDLER ATTACHMENT, U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,515, invented by Carl D. Kalbfleisch, which comprises a base frame that is pivotally attached to an arm of an earth moving machine for movement about a transverse horizontal axis. A trunnion is fixed to the frame with a sleeve for movement and further comprises a fixed clamp assembly. A clamp cylinder pivots the clamp assembly to hold a pole against perpendicular clamp surfaces. A tilt linear actuator pivots the sleeve on the trunnion.

Another known prior art is a TRACTOR HYDRAULIC GRABBING TOOL, U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,294, invented by John Lyddon, which comprises a tractor tool that attaches to a tractor frame easily. The attachment tool is capable of grasping, lifting, rotating, and moving a heavy or awkward object without the tractor operator leaving the tractor controls. It is comprised of a frame having two jaw members that open and closes in a scissor-like fashion.

Another known prior art is a TREE REMOVAL ATTACHMENT AND METHOD, U.S. Pat. No. 7,322,388, invented by Jimmy L. Adcock, which can be easily affixed to construction equipment. The tree removal attachment has at least one movable blade which is powered preferably by the hydraulic system of the loader and can be operated in relatively small, confined areas. The method of use prevents the necessity of backfilling a large hole as usually formed by bulldozers as the extract the roots attached to a tree truck during removal from the ground.

Another known prior art is a POST PULLER, U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,594, invented by Desmond L. Ransom, which allows the improved hydraulically operated post pulling apparatus is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle such as a skid steer mover with a support frame. The support frame can attach a base member or base plate to the support frame. The base member includes a post receiving recess that receives a post from the side. The post pulling apparatus also includes a top support plate that includes a post receiving indent, which also receives a post from the side and further comprises a rotating jaw member with pivotally attached piston and clamping cylinder, and a fixed jaw member that includes a number of post-engaging faces. When the pistons of the pulling hydraulic cylinders are extended, the bar link pivot allowing the top support plate to lift and raise the pole from the ground.

Another known prior art is a MULTI-PURPOSE FRONT LOADER ATTACHMENT, U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,899, invented by Earl William Emerson, which comprises a frame apparatus that fits on the loader arms of a skid steer. The frame apparatus serves as a platform upon which hydraulically driven tools can be employed to grasp, lift, rotate, and transport heavy objects. The tools are designed to allow easy installation on, and removal from, the frame apparatus by one person.

None of the prior art disclosed above has the means which not only removes deeply set poles or pilings from the ground but also removes ground anchors, a problem solved by the present invention which is not suggested nor anticipated by any of the prior art.

Also, the prior art disclosed above all require to be connected at all times to the machine to control the attachment. The present invention does not require a separate machine when extracting poles from the ground; only a hydraulic source. For instance, the mini pole removal apparatus can be positioned into place with the crane system of a digger derrick truck, then removed from the crane system, and then finally connected to a hydraulic source to operate the mini pole removal apparatus to extract a pole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The further objective is to make pole or piling removal a one man operation. At present, chains and straps methods are used to remove a pole; the apparatus removes poles with enhanced safety using one operator. Ground anchors are pulled with a chain hook that is clamped in the jaws of the apparatus. Also this adaptation will allow this to happen without exposing the operator to risk of death or injury and generally increase safety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the mini pole removal apparatus in a pulling clamped position mounted on a skid steer loader.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the mini pole removal apparatus in a resting clamped position mounted on a teleboom wheel loader.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mini pole removal apparatus in an extended open position mounted to a teleboom loader.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the mini pole removal apparatus mounted in a pulling position mounted on a skid steer loader.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the mini pole removal apparatus not mounted on any type of vehicle.

FIG. 6 is a rear end perspective view of the mini pole removal apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a front end view of the mini pole removal apparatus, in particular, retracted pulling cylinder and extended clamping cylinder.

FIG. 8 is a front end view of the mini pole removal apparatus, in particular, retracted pulling and clamping cylinders.

FIG. 9 is a front end view of the mini pole removal apparatus, in particular, extended pulling cylinder and retracted clamping cylinder.

FIG. 10 is a front end view of the mini pole removal apparatus, in particular, fully extended pulling cylinder and fully extended clamping cylinder about a utility pole.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the mini pole removal apparatus, in particular, the pole ground anchor removal hook attached.

FIG. 12 is a front end view of the mini pole removal apparatus, in particular, the pole ground anchor removal hook attached and with clamping arms closed and raised.

FIG. 13 is a prospective view of the ground anchor removal tool.

FIG. 14 is a prospective view of the pulling and clamping components without the extraction cylinder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawing in FIGS. 1-4, in particular, the mini pole removal apparatus 21 for loaders comprises clamping arms 13 energized by the loader hydraulics 10 gives a firm pressure on metal cleat inserts 19 allowing to engage the pole 33, engages hydraulic cylinders 12 on clamping arms 13. The cleated inserts 19 have a curved surface to easily grip the round profile of a pole. Hydraulic cylinders 12,14 are electronically controlled by a hydraulic selector valve 25 to channel hydraulic fluid into a rising hydraulic cylinder 14 causing the closed pivotally attached members 13, or clamping members, 13 to rise vertically, lifting the pole 33 from the earth. The clamping members 13 and cleated inserts 19 are the clamping means that are pivotally attached to the pulling means 39. This is shown in detail in FIG. 14. The cutting edge plates 15 enable the mini pole removal apparatus to push material clear from the pole 33 giving the ground plate 23 a level platform to work from. The ground plate 23 has a rounded opening to position the pole in the clamping arms 13. The ground plate is supported by two outer walls 36 and two inner walls 37. The inner walls 37 also provide extra support between the mounting plate 22 and the extension guides 18. The extension guides 18, as part of the pulling means 39, ensures that the hydraulic cylinder 14 runs straight and controls the pole 33 as it leaves the ground. The extension guides 18 are steel tubes that slide along the fixed track 24 on the ground plate 23. The fixed track 24 is made up of two formed members spaced appropriately apart so the hydraulic cylinder 14 fits between them. 21 is a lifting point that makes it possible to move the unit with a hoist. 21 is the means for moving the mini pole removal apparatus without the use of a loader. The mounting plate 22 is the means for connecting the apparatus to be attached to a skid steer loader 31. It consists of a mounting plate with a hole pattern 16 for the skid steer loader 31 to hook up to. The hole pattern 16 in the plate allows adaption to a wide array of bolt-on mounts for switching between different brands and types of machines such as but not limited to skid steers, wheel loaders, and excavators. The battery power source 17 allows power for the operation of the electronically controlled hydraulic selector valve 25, allowing the mini pole removal apparatus to be used with any external hydraulic power source. This allows it to be used as a stand-alone unit without being physically attached to the machine 31 as long as there is an external hydraulic source.

Referring to FIGS. 11-13, the drop-in hook 38 is a ground anchor removal tool allowing for the hydraulic removal of ground support anchors used to support utility and transmission poles. The drop-in hook 38 consists of a handle 35 for inserting the hook in the jaws 13 of the pole removal apparatus. The jaws 13 clamp the cross tube 34 of the hook. The curved member 32 is what is used to grab the eyelet of the ground anchor. With the ground plate 23 flat on the ground and the drop-in hook 38 securely in the jaws 13, the hydraulic cylinder 14 is activated causing the ground anchor to rise vertically from the earth.

Various changes and departures may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited to that specifically described in the specifications or as illustrated in the drawings but only as set forth in the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A mini pole removal apparatus to be used with a loader or to be used as a stand-alone unit connected to a hydraulic source comprises: a means for connecting to a loader; a means for moving the mini pole removal apparatus around without the use of a loader; a pulling means that slides along a fixed track; a clamping means that is pivotally attached to the pulling means.
 2. A mini pole removal apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the fixed track comes off of a ground plate and consists of two formed members spaced so the pulling means and a hydraulic cylinder fits between them.
 3. A mini pole removal apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein coming off the back of the ground plate is the means for connecting to the loader, supported by two outer walls along the ground plate and an inner wall on each side of the fixed track in the center of the ground plate.
 4. A mini pole removal apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein the pulling means consists of two tubes extending upward connected at the top with a flat member to form a lifting point, two pivotally attached members in front of the tubes, with one hydraulic cylinder on each side for moving the pivotally attached members together forming a jaw-like clamp.
 5. A mini pole removal apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein the pivotally attached members each consist of a removable cleated insert.
 6. A mini pole removal apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein the pulling means consists of a drop-in hook
 7. A mini pole removal apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein the hook consists of a handle, a cross tube, and a curved member.
 8. A mini pole removal apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein the pulling means further consists of a hydraulic cylinder from claim 2 securely mounted to the lower end of the fixed track and the other end securely attached to the upper end of the pulling tubes.
 9. A mini pole removal apparatus as described in claim 8, wherein the hydraulic cylinder is supplied fluid from a fluid supply source either to move the pulling means up or to move the pulling means down. 